This catalog is a descriptive and interpretive listing of the insignia of the Army of the United States—other than buttons, epaulets, and horse furniture—in the National Collections that were prescribed or worn during the period 1800-1851. The subject of early American military buttons has been covered by L. F. Emilio in The Emilio Collection of Military Buttons (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1911), W. L. Calver and R. P. Bolton in History Written with Pick and Shovel (New York: New Yor

The following works have been used in gathering the material for this book. They are frequently referred to in the text in shortened form....

In almost all armies it long has been standard practice to use distinctive devices of cloth and metal to distinguish between arms and services, and between individual units of each arm, to enhance morale and develop esprit de corps. Colors of units of the British Army have had ancient badges emblazoned on them since before the establishment of the present standing army in 1661. By the end of the first half of the 18th century some of these badges had been authorized for placement on horse furnit

Uniform regulations prior to 1821 were loosely and vaguely worded, and this was especially true in regard to officers' insignia. For example General Orders of March 30, 1800, stated: "... the swords of all officers, except the generals, to be attached by a white shoulder belt three inches wide, with an oval plate three inches by two and a half ornamented with an eagle." [33] In 1801 the 1st Infantry Regiment directed that "the sword ... for platoon officers ... be worn with a white belt over the

USNM 14978. Figure 97. Figure 97 This silver ornament is one of the most unusual pieces of military insignia in the national collections. Obviously military, it is just as obviously of Militia origin. Although hardly artistic in design, it has a rather attractive simplicity and has been made with considerable care. The eagle is of the "frogleg" design that first appeared on buttons of the post-Revolutionary Army and, later on, of the Legion. In its right talon the eagle is grasping what appear t

1 : Parkyn's Shoulder-Belt Plates and Buttons contains a wealth of information on British regimental devices. 2 : For history of the organization of the Army, see American Military History, 1607-1953 ; Mahon , "History of the Organization of the United States Infantry"; and Jones , "History of the Organization of the United States Field Artillery." Unfortunately, there is no single, completely satisfactory source on the militia system of the United States. The following works, however, contain s